THERE HAVE BEEN GOATS AS WELL AS HEROES, AND AS MANY LOSERS AS WINNERS, BUT THE THREE-AND-A-HALF DECADES SINCE ROGER BANNISTER'S EPOCHAL FOUR-MINUTE MILE (LEFT), ON MAY 6, 1954, HAVE BEEN WONDROUSLY RICH IN ATHLETIC ACCOMPLISHMENT. THE FOLLOWING PAGES PROVIDE A YEAR-BY-YEAR CHRONICLE, BEGINNING WITH RON FIMRITE'S FOND AND EVOCATIVE LOOK BACK AT '54.

1962

Heeeee-ere's Johnny! And here, alas, is the Cuban missile crisis. And the death of 36-year-old Marilyn Monroe. The Pack is back as champions, and so are the Yankees, the Celtics and, in college basketball, Cincinnati. The Maple Leafs and Southern Cal's gridders also come through.

INCIDENTALLYIT PAYS TO ADVERTISEThere were 7,000 fans at the ballpark in Portland, Ore., on the opening night of the baseball season. On a billboard on the leftfield fence was a short message. It read: WHY AREN'T YOU HOME WATCHING KATU, CHANNEL 2? Next day's attendance: 700.

AND INTRODUCING...

George Steinbrenner, who in signing Jerry Lucas achieved a coup that surprised the NBA, the sports world and even himself, is a round-faced, fast-paced 31-year-old Cleveland businessman. A graduate of Williams, he...is now vice-president of the family-owned Great Lakes Steamship Company [and] president of the Cleveland Pipers basketball team....

His hiring and firing of players and coaches got him condemned by the Cleveland press last season...but he points out that the team was a winner, as forecast.—SI, MAY 21

"He's 15 years old and has a 90% academic average," droned Manhattan basketball coach Ken Norton to a meeting of fellow coaches in Chicago the other day. "He is extremely well coordinated and, at the same age, is better than Wilt Chamberlain. He attends Power Memorial high school [in New York City]. I know we won't get him, so I'm letting all you other coaches in on it."

Thus did Norton introduce to the fraternity a bright young 7-footer named...Lew Alcindor.—SI, DEC. 10

Jack Nicklaus wins his first pro tournament: the U.S. Open, no less.

Bandage sales get a boost with the arrival of the pull-tab can.

Insomniacs take note: Johnny Carson debuts on "The Tonight Show."

Aussie southpaw Rod Laver wins the Grand Slam. It's so much fun he'll do it again in '69.

John Glenn orbits the earth.

Marv Throneberry's expansion Mets overreach, drop 120 games.

The fans wuz robbed! Sonny Liston KOs Floyd Patterson in Round 1.

SEVEN PHOTOS

"Houston is the only city in the country where women wear insect repellent instead of perfume."—RICHIE ASHBURN, METS OUTFIELDER, AFTER HAND-FIGHTING TEXAS MOSQUITOES

"O.K., now, everyone inhale and...dehale."—MAURY WILLS, DODGER SHORTSTOP, LEADING THE TEAM THROUGH CALISTHENICS